How pancreatic alpha cells respond in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
Official title: Pancreatic islet alpha cell response to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11212796 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why pancreatic alpha cells release too much glucagon in adults with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX006210-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11212796 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, particularly veterans receiving care through the VA who are willing to provide clinical data or tissue samples, would be the most relevant participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without insulin resistance or those with unrelated conditions (for example some non–type 2 forms of diabetes or other metabolic disorders) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will study human pancreatic islet alpha and beta cells to see how key gene regulators, like the transcription factor MAFB, change under diabetes-related stress such as high fat, oxidative stress, or insulin resistance. They will examine human islet tissue and laboratory models to measure hormone secretion (glucagon and insulin) and patterns of gene activity. The team will compare samples from people with and without type 2 diabetes to identify molecular changes that may drive excess glucagon. Results will be used to identify potential targets for therapies that restore normal hormone balance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce excess glucagon and improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory studies have shown MAFB changes in stressed human islets, but translating these findings into patient treatments is still a new and emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coate, Kathryn Colbert — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Coate, Kathryn Colbert
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.